VERA FILES FACT CHECK: DepEd’s order continuing voucher program for Grade 11 students in SUCs, LUCs for SY 2023-2024 needs context

VERA Files
January 26, 2024

Six months after stopping the issuance of vouchers for Grade 11 students enrolled in state and local universities and colleges (SUCs and LUCs) for the current school year ending in June 2024, the Department of Education (DepEd) ordered that it be continued. This needs context.

Under DepEd’s Senior High School Voucher Program (SHSVP), the government extends vouchers as financial aid to qualified public and private incoming Grade 11 students, enabling them to enroll in SUCs and LUCs and private schools.

Speaking at a hearing of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture on Jan. 15, Education Undersecretary and Spokesperson Michael Poa said 17,751 Grade 11 students currently enrolled in SUCs and LUCs have not been receiving vouchers. He said this prompted Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte to extend the voucher program until the next school year.

STATEMENT

In a statement on Jan. 16, DepEd announced that the SHSVP will be continued for the Grade 11 students now enrolled in SUCs and LUCs until they finish their senior year.

The statement reads:

“To prevent any displacement of learners, the DepEd would like to announce that the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHSVP) will again be extended to Grade 11 learners currently enrolled in SUCs and LUCs for SY 2023-2024. Subsequently, they may also continue on as voucher beneficiaries to complete their Grade 12 studies come SY 2024-2025.”

Source: DepEd Philippines Facebook page, OFFICIAL STATEMENT On the Grade 11 learners enrolled in SUCs and LUCs, Jan. 16, 2024

FACT

On June 5, 2023, the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) announced that DepEd had given instructions to inform all SUCs and LUCs participating in the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) program that new Grade 11 voucher program beneficiaries will no longer be accepted from their schools beginning school year 2023-2024.

PEAC is a five-member committee that assists DepEd in the implementation and management of GASTPE. Through this program, DepEd provides financial assistance, such as SHSVP, to students and teachers to “improve access to quality education and decongest public schools.”

The PEAC announcement was reaffirmed through DepEd Order No. 20 s 2023 published in July 2023. The order stated that “beginning SY 2023-2024 there should be no more GASTPE beneficiaries from SUCs and LUCs, except those who will be entering Grade 12 in SY 2023-2024 to finish their basic education.”

It added that government-run colleges and universities with laboratory schools can still accept senior high school enrollees who will not receive vouchers.

BACKSTORY

On Dec. 18, 2023, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) issued a memorandum directing SUCs and LUCs to begin wrapping up their SHS program for SY 2024-2025, as there is no longer a legal basis for funding it.

(Read VERA FILES FACT SHEET: Why is the senior high school program discontinued in local, state universities and colleges?)

CHED Chairperson Prospero “Popoy” De Vera clarified in a press briefing that this does not mean the K-12 program will be abolished. The memorandum was only a reminder about CHED’s 2015 agreement with DepEd allowing SUCs and LUCs to offer an SHS program from SY 2016-2017 until SY 2020-2021 to help address capacity issues.